St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-11


velvet, is always at hand for toilet use,
and the laying on of cosmetics is so deep
| that it is named ''face-Writing. Turk
iSh women understand the arts of re-
| pairing the ravages of time, and their
toilet serviceis varied and effective.
Meals are served on bright brass trays
| of various sizes. and piece OF bread
serves as spoon. knife, and fork, so
| deity used that there is neither splitting
or crumbling about the low table beside
which cushions are ranged instead of
chairs. Exquisite neatness prevails
ana many attendants are in waiting.
BATH ROOMS OF ALABASTER.
Every Turkish harem has its bath
rooms. three in number. if the owner is
well to do. The first is square, chiefly
Egyptian alabaster), lighted from a
glass dome. A large reservoir built
against the outer wall, with an
opening into the bath, contains the
water, half of which is heated by a
furnace below it. Hot air pipes throw
intense heat into the room. fountains
lead the water from the reservoir and
here the rubbing process is conducted.
The second room is less and furnished
only with a marble platform holding
| mattresses and cushions, where the
bathers repoSe after the fatigue of alb
buttons too many for description. Here
they smoke cigarettes, eat fruits and
sweets and finally wrap themselves III
soft burnouseS and pass to the outer
chamber where they browse and dose
on downy couches till they recover
from the Steaming neat and the languor
that follows long, warm bath.
Besides these, there are public baths
where women spend many hours iii goS-
sip and the passive enjoyment of being
thoroughly rubbed, brushed, cOmbed
and perfumed.
Gnce met famous lady bought with
a great price by high official of STAN
bOul. She was a Georgian, | think,
with hair of reddish gold-the sum
bright treSSeS of Medea-iYory white
skin, eyes black as death-the antelope
eyes of the poets. The faintest line of
antimOny drawn on the lids at the root
of the long lasheS added to their luster
and the witchery of her glance.
She wore the yashmak. and as only
ladies were present | begged her to
remove it. so [ might see her unveiled
loneliness. She complied without af-
fectation of timidity or blushing and
returned my gaze with smiling seren-
ity, too we'll used to open admiration
for embarrassment. L cannot recall her
name; it was something which, being
interpreted, might mean Tulip Cheek.
A riyierer of pearls lay on her neck
SNOW on snow - and the exquisite
mouth was very Cupid'S bow.
My princess must have been peer
less maiden ten years before, now, I'M
happily. growing stout, as Eastern
women usually do: the result of lux
urious living and much eating of sweets.
Her manner was soft and gracious, her
aspect the repoSe of supreme content.
Ladies of rank are now struggling
into the miSerieS of French toilet, but
the ole Turkish dress is much prettier.
A loose, flowing robe of silk or crepe
wrought with gold and silks, without
belt or tightneSS to limit its comfort.
Nothing better adapted to their climate
can be imagined. The white veil, pre-
Seribed by law. without which no one
may appear in street or presence of man,
is thin gauZe, folded bias and placed
over the head, coming down near the
eyebrows. A larger piece covers the
lower half of the face and is secured to
the back hair by jeweled pins. 1t makes
light, pretty turban which is a merci-
full charity to the hOmely and enhances
the grace of the graceful; not hiding
the paradise eyeS-ah, those eyes.
We'll may the MINISTRIES liken their
LIQUID Splendor to the reflection of mid
night stars at the bottom of the well.
And the wells grow thinner and thinner
in spite of firmans. issued by the sultan
and read in all the mosques, calling at
tentiOn of heads of families to this back
sliding and violation of the law of the
prophet.
Often have l been asked how do Con-
Stantinople ladies employ themselves.
Like others who love leisure, in visit
ing, prOmenading. dress and shopping.
Their chief Joy is to float in a caique to
the valley of Sweet Waters. the beauty
spot of the BOsphOrOus. On Friday
the M0hammedan Sunday-hundredS
glide by. dressed in brilliant color, mist
like wells family shading their faces.
The rOwerS wear jackets of scarlet, stiff
with shining br0idery. an armed slave
is on duty clad i'll barbaric StuffS. CuSh-
ions of eiderdown, crimson hangingS
touching the blue water make the en-
chanting picture. o, how its beauty
comes back to me now,
Their talk with each other is of their
children, the changes and lntrigues of
the palace, and of dress.
THE TURKISH WOMAN
does not know the word responsibility.
She has undiSputed control of her prop
erty and time, is able to take her own
part, and by fineSSe and perseverance
manages to have her own way.
Speaking through an Interpreter dulls
the edge of conversation and the mereSt
trifleS suffice. Yet Oh thinking over our
talk it does not seem greatly inferior to
the average morning visit in the land
we love to call our own.
The SecluSiOn of the harem gives
much time for discussion and many
a question of grave import is there de-
bated. The women are well informed
in politics, fond of intrigue. and so art
full that our missionary, DR.. Dwight. of
COnStantinople, writes: ''Any one who
has private scheme to advance, pol
icy to develop. an Office to gain or to
keep. a boy 10 provide for. or an enemy
to crush, sends his wife to the harem of
a grandee. Women here bring about
the most astounding results"
Their manner is ceremOniOuS during
formal calls, and they still kiss the hem
of the garment in Difference to age or
superior. In familiar places. they have
a sweet frankneSS like unframed young
girls and listen with interest to accounts
of our ways of living. how we keep
house, do great charities, manage the
churches, etc, etc. How hard" they
say in tender pity, ''that life may be
good for YOU but would not be good at
all for us. You are made for work, we
are made for love: this suits us best"
So they lean back Oh the silky cushions,
taste the conserve of rose and of ounce,
light their cigarettes and are happy.
SUSAN Z. WALLACE.